Fan Mail!

Monday, 3 April 2017

The best news since publishing Mister Woodreeve’s Reflection is that people have enjoyed reading it! I keep getting emails and letters saying how much they liked the book. I can’t resist sharing some of these comments….

Kate read the novel in one go and enjoyed being ‘steeped in the world of the Woodreeve for the whole day’. Yvonne was impressed by how well the story was woven together, and Rachel commented on the strong sense of place and the gradual revealing of Matthew’s past.

I hesitated before sending a copy to Alistair, the lecturer who supervised my thesis on T.S.Eliot. What would he make of it? It was a great relief to learn that he found it ‘extremely enjoyable… engrossing, displaying sure-footed storytelling skills… my taste for mysteries was satisfied’. He was pleasantly surprised that the ‘enchanted space’ was embedded in domestic realism, historical probability, and an important regional setting; and any doubts about Matthew’s magical abilities were ‘countered by his indulgence in beneficial mischief.’ I was knocked out by his comment on ‘the very astute and sensitive handling of the women, Helen and Emma, very much closer to the world of Hardy invoked by Matthew’s thesis’.

Alistair also mentioned ‘how handsomely Unbound have made Mr Woodreeve’s Reflection’, and several friends also appreciated the quality of the cover and presentation. Thank you, Unbound!

Barbara had read and offered comments on an earlier draft of the novel, and she was pleased with the final version: ‘I was caught up in the story right away… Even though I knew the plot, I was still engaged in the unfolding of the story – it kept my attention throughout.’

Sue found Mr Woodreeve ‘an excellent read. Poignant, exciting, tender and moving.’ Finally, John declared the book ‘a tour de force… The end of the the story leaves the reader with intriguing alternatives.’ I do hope it does – that was the idea, anyway.

So, many thanks to all seven of you for your kind comments. Much appreciated!